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Hamilton Litestat has just introduced its new and improved Woods range of electrical accessories which has been re-engineered to provide a contemporary feel that suits current interior design.

Utilising Hamilton’s own range of inserts, which are of durable polycarbonate construction featuring contoured lacquered metal rockers, it creates a modern, neat and up-market styling that is able to maximise buyer appeal. To complement the interior design, the rocker switches are available in a choice of bright chrome, satin chrome, antique brass and polished brass.

With a wide selection of products, including mono-bloc rocker and dolly switches, switched sockets, digital television coaxial sockets, along with data and telecom outlets, as well as the availability of Eurodata modules, it addresses most project installation requirements. Whilst the visual aspect of this range has natural appeal, all components are designed to be utilised with standard wall boxes.

Combining the unique properties of wood with the latest wiring technologies, Hamilton’s Woods range is able to address the everyday needs of modern households and commercial environments. Hand-made from sustainable timber, each plate is hand polished to enhance the grain so that it remains true to the original pattern of the wood. These accessory plates are available in standard ovolo or with the option of chamfered edge mouldings.

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Klober’s BBA approved, ‘air open’ type LR roofing underlay, Permo Air, offers the highest rate of water vapour transmission currently available (2736 g/m2/day) and the lowest water vapour resistance (0.08Mn/g). 13% more breathable than any other underlay, Permo Air can therefore cope with intense periods of water vapour creation such as during the critical drying out period of a new building. Available in 1.5 and 1 metre widths and 50 metre lengths, the larger size weighs only 13kg. Hydrophobically treated, it is suitable for cold and warm roof construction and has exceptional nail tear resistance.

Kettering Roofing installed Permo Air as part of Kettering Borough Council’s focus of work to upgrade dwellings and 10 blocks of flats on the town’s Grange Estate. This formed part of Phase 2 of the Northamptonshire Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, re-roofing having been identified as a key element in the provision of thermally efficient homes to Decent Homes Standard requirements.

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Thorn’s new Voyager LED range enables designers to specify emergency lighting that is more aesthetically pleasing, consumes less power and requires smaller power supplies. There are three options – Route, Area and Spot – available in white or silver with a choice of recessed or surface mounted styles. All use single, high performance 2.7W LEDs and sophisticated optics to give better light control than traditional fluorescent-based systems. The fittings can thus be spaced more widely with consequent savings in installation and running costs.

All the models are self-contained and include NiMh batteries and charger, L-shaped for recessed models to fit through a 68mm cut-out aperture, and offer 3 hours emergency lighting at the required level. The nickel metal hydride battery is more environmentally friendly, offers greater capacity per volume and, having no ‘memory effect’, has superior recharge characteristics than nickel cadmium types. They are also not encased in the control gear, thus avoiding any operational heat issues and allowing for quick changing without tools.

The integral aluminium heat sink further contributes to a long working life, while a piano key terminal block with multiple entries promotes fast fitting and easy daisy chaining. Luminaires can be wired for either maintained or non-maintained mode and self-addressable test versions are available.

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Sanctuary Housing Associations’ £20 million build of four blocks of affordable accommodation at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge has seen 12 areas of Flag-Soprema Optigreen 'Economy' green roof installed.

Each of the 6-storey buildings was of step design over the top 3 floors, the green roofs having been designed for their contribution to water retention using a low maintenance sedum/herb/grass planting mixture. Rainwater permeates the soil and passes into pipes before being collected in storm cells. Landscaping also incorporates swales to collect water and offset flood risk following periods of heavy rain. Brown roof areas are covered with a 150mm layer of soil from the site in order to provide a balanced eco-system for both insect and bird life. What was once an area of barren car park now provides a balance of controlled environmental contribution within a sustainable construction programme.

External elevations to the rooms are made primarily from natural, undecorated cedar obtained from sustainable sources. Photovoltaic cells heat domestic hot water while large areas of glazing throughout the 100 apartments are shielded by brises soleil. Zinc, recognised as the most sustainable metal used in construction today, was also used for cladding of the ground floor.

372 bed spaces for medical staff have been provided, Zaki Ghiacy, Director at McBains Cooper commenting “We wanted to use a mixture of softer, more ‘domestic’ materials to reflect the buildings use whilst responding to the contemporary look and feel of the main building”. Flag-Soprema MD Steve Greaves added, “This type of design shows how virtually any living space can be designed to incorporate a green roof area. The fact that it has been used within a hospital of worldwide reputation is good for the green roof industry as a whole.”

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The new EES Data Pro Estimating and project Management Software has been designed to now operate with the Windows 7 touch screen interface. Users can now operate the software without the use of the mouse or keyboard.

Simply touch the function controls on screen to operate the system.

EES Data produce a full suite of Contract Management software built around a number of core modules and an extensive database of industry standard products. Software modules include Full Professional Contract Estimating, Small Works Costing and Billing, Supplier and Quotation Request, Purchase Ordering, Job Cost Financial Monitoring, Application for Payment and Stock Control.

The EES Data estimating and project management software is available through Newey & Eyre Limited and The BSS Group Plc

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The MEIGaN (Medical Electrical Installation Guidance Notes) document gives healthcare establishments strict and clear guidance regarding electrical wiring and installation; and MK Electric – as part of its expanding collection of devices dedicated to healthcare – now offers Isolated Power Supply (IPS) sockets that meet its requirements.

The MK MEIGaN IPS sockets fulfill a key recommendation that IPS outlets are double pole or un-switched; are ‘Clean Earth’ and are colour-coded blue with engraved white lettering stating ‘Medical Equipment Only’. Where white outlets are preferred; they should be mounted on a blue background, approximately 2cm larger than the socket; with the socket engraved ‘Medical Equipment Only’ in blue lettering.

An IPS is required by MEIGaN in order to increase the supply resilience by reducing the impact of first fault conditions downstream of the IPS. The IPS is usually combined with an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) that prevents disruption of the supply owing to problems upstream of the UPS.

The use of these socket outlets to connect equipment not complying with IEC 60601-1 (BS EN 60601-1) in the patient environment is also to be avoided; as non-compliant equipment can possess high earth leakage currents resulting in higher risk to patients.

It should be noted that domestic extension mains leads are not permitted and sufficient sockets should be provided for operation of all equipment to eliminate the need for extensions.

The MEIGaN document is produced by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA); and is intended to be used by healthcare organisations and medical device suppliers responsible for permanent electrical installation of medical devices and associated equipment in diagnostic imaging (including dental X-ray units) and radiotherapy suites. Its requirements are intended for application by staff with electrical knowledge.

This guidance is for new buildings, refurbished rooms and transportable diagnostic or treatment rooms and is not retrospective. The document is due for review in 2010.

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Without effective cleaning, door furniture, handrails and other touched surfaces are susceptible to the development of harmful organisms and contaminants. Cleaning regimes depend on personal diligence and are therefore intrinsically unreliable.

MicroClean is a new nano-technology based, photocatalytic coating which counteracts contamination of hard surfaces. It needs no extended curing period at high temperature and destroys organic compounds such as those found in MRSA, C.Difficile, e.Coli, SARS, Listeria, and Salmonella.

When applied to hard surfaces, MicroClean prevents contaminants from growing and eradicates them very quickly. Ultra Violet (UV) light strikes the particles in the coating which, when activated emit electrons. Water molecules nearby are broken down in highly reactive hydroxyl radicals and super oxides, creating a powerful oxidising reaction and breaking down organic compounds such as bacteria into water and carbon dioxide.

The coating continues to work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as long as there is a light to 'power' it. Tests have shown that colonies of bacteria are destroyed within 24 hours of contact. MicroClean can be either factory applied to any of Laidlaw’s diverse range of ironmongery products or spray applied on site to bigger surfaces such as doors and walls.

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Substandard work by contractors and the need for properly installed passive protection in hospitals

Over the years, British Fire Consortium member Envirograf, specialists in passive fire protection products, has experienced a number of hospitals with serious shortcomings in their fire safety provisions. Two recent examples, listed below, show how a fire could have easily and quickly spread to other sections of these hospitals.

Safety failures

In the first case, a hospital in Manchester had an inspection by the fire and rescue service. Its report highlighted that the laundry rooms were a key area of concern. The rooms are situated one above the other and have both large and small plastic pipes interconnected to each other. In the event of a fire in one of the rooms, the pipes would be a fast-track route for the fire and smoke to travel. In addition, the laundry is passed by motorised hangers to access chutes from upper floors, and these are left completely open at all times witout an integral fire barrier.

The second case involved a hospital in Kent that failed an inspection by the fire service. The brigade recommended that the hospital make a significant number of improvements or face potential prosecution. Its main cause for concern was that a number of contractors over the years had fitted and replaced services and had left large holes and gaps around the srvices in which a fire could travel. Examples included cables and cable trays passing through fire rated walls with no fire-stopping products being used, and pipes and services in open risers without protection.

The room next to the operating rooms had no fire break walls above the suspended ceilings, while in other rooms the fire barriers that had been fitted had either been damaged by unskilled contractors or completely removed. Holes in previous fire barriers were large enough for a person to crawl through. Temporary partitions that had been in place for many years needed upgrading. The services through the partitions need to be fire-proofed. Electrical trunking passing through escape corridors had no fire breaks.

Many hospitals face similar problems because many of the contractors doing the installation work are not aware or have not been trained in the need for passive fire prevention products.

Installation rigour

The Passive Fire Training Centre in Dover, Kent is a unique facility that highlights the urgent need for life-saving products such as Envirograf products to be used on all new-build and refurbishment properties. The centre also informs tradesmen about the dangers of ignoring this protection and, through the services of the Nationwide Association of Passive Fire Installers and Specifiers (NAPFIS) installers can then become accountable for their work, helping to avoid sloppy workmanship which could later prove to be fatal.

Many building control departments now require properly trained installers to carry out fire-stopping work and as NAPFIS members, these installers can show that they have the knowledge and have been independently assessed.

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For the past 30 years, Triton’s T80 electric showers have been the number one choice for installers faced with a new, problematic or retrofit installation. Now with the launch of the fifth-generation T80z collection, this best selling electric shower makes new and retro-fit installations even easier and quicker – meaning installers can simply ‘fit and forget’ and move on to the next job.

All four of the new T80z models – White and Chrome, Chrome, Satin/Chrome and a highly topical Eco model – incorporate innovative, easy fit benefits designed using feedback from installers to ensure they tackle the installation problems met on a daily basis, particularly when replacing an existing electric shower.

Eliminating the nuisance of existing water or electric connections being on the wrong side or perhaps the chosen new shower not covering the original fixing holes, the new range includes features such as a unique ‘reversible’ water inlet and the choice of five water and six electric entry points to easily accommodate countless cable and pipe layouts.

An installation template allows all water, electric and fixing points to be marked out before any work starts and there is generous ‘working’ room for installers to make the necessary connections and fixings whilst carrying out the installation. Removable pipe entry trims further reduce the need for cutting on water and cable entry points

Z Uni-Fit Kit

For installations where existing wiring is too short, the addition of the innovative Z Uni-fit kit option makes it simple to extend wiring without compromising the professional finish of the shower. BEAB approved, the Z Uni-fit kit can save up to four hours on a difficult installation, widening the replacement scope of this shower range even further.

Green Credentials

For installers looking for a shower for environmentally friendly customers through to Housing Association or new home projects, the T80z Eco provides an equally straightforward solution. Offering a maximum flow of 6 litres per minute, rather than an average flow which is often seen, the T80z Eco makes a big difference when it comes to satisfying the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Lorna Fellowes, Triton’s managing director comments:

“The T80 range has been loved by installers for the past three decades, namely for its cost effective, problem solving ability. The latest T80z models certainly continue this trend and in fact take ease of installation to the next level. We have incorporated many features across these five flexible options that are most requested by installers, with the aim of providing a flexible showering range that is simple to install, appeals to the end user and all with the quality finish you’d expect from Triton.”

Big Brand Benefits

Particularly in the current climate, it is important for installers to have products that can ensure a first class service that customers can really feel the benefit from. Using known names such as Triton brings reliability firmly into the mix. The T80z not only benefits from the involvement of Triton’s in-house research and development team but also from the company’s expert technical advice, quality and customer service.

The complete range of T80z models has a 2 year guarantee and, if ordered before 5pm, forms part of the rapid replenishment service for delivery the following day.

Whatever finish is chosen, this newest T80z continues the trend for offering innovative design, performance, value and ease of installation – and over 1 million homeowners agree, with a T80 variant installed in their home.

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